Asheville, North Carolina News

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ASHEVILLE, NC – The Asheville Tourists have a few openings for both contestants and vendors for the team’s Inagural Fall Festival and Chili Cook-off, which will be held at McCormick Field on Saturday, October 3, from noon until 5 p .m.

The cook-off competition will be held in the Pepsi Party Pavilion and is limited to 20 individual and 20 restaurants. The entry fees are $35 for individuals and $50 for restaurants. The coveted “Best Chili in WNC” title will be awarded, and there will be three cash prizes of $300 each for the individual winner, the restaurant winner and the fans’ choice award.

“The initial response has been outstanding, but we still have a handful of openings for both individuals and restaurants,” said Mike Bauer, exectuive director of the Tourists and Palace Baseball. “We plan on having a lot of fun, because we believe chili cannot be defined. Whatever you call chili, we call chili, regardless of whether or not it has beans and meat or is red, white or any other color.”

Vendor booths are also available for $50. Arts and crafts artisans, exhibitors from local businesses and vendors of all varieties are invited to participate. Booths will be located along the warning track of the outfield, with each vendor receiving a 12′ x 12′ space. Vendors are responsible for bringing their own tables, chairs and other needs.

Music will be provided throughout the event, beginning with the Jamie Pelfrey Band playing country hits at noon. The Sharkadelics will take the stage at 1:45 p.m. with their popular set of classic rock hits before Mighty McFly starts playing top 40 hits from the 1980s and 1990s at 3:30 p.m. Numerous other events will also be held, including a pumpkin drawing contest and an ice cream eating contest.

>Tickets for the Tourists Fall Festival and Chili Cook-off are on sale at the McCormick Field box office as well as ticketmaster.com. Cost for the event is $10 for adults, $5 for children age 5-12, and free for youngsters age four and under.

For more information or to register for the Asheville Tourists Fall Festival and Chili Cook-off, call the Tourists front office at (828) 258-0428.

ASHEVILLE, NC – The Asheville Tourists entered play Wednesday night just 2.0 games ahead of second-place Augusta for the final playoff spot in the South Atlantic League, desperately searching for a victory over Lexington. Tied at 2-2 in the eighth, Jimmy Cesario led off the bottom of the inning with a solo homerun to open the floodgates for a four-run inning, lifting the Tourists to a 6-2 win.

Carlos Luna made his third start for the Tourists and pitched 5.2 great innings, the longest start of his career. Luna looked sharp through three shutout frames before allowing a run in the top of the fourth to put Lexington ahead, 1-0.

The Tourists tied it up at 1-1 in the fifth on an RBI single for Scott Robinson that plated Ryan Peisel. Luna came out for the sixth inning and allowed a leadoff walk before a sacrifice bunt put a runner on second with one out. Luna struck out Eric Suttle for the second out before Jay Austin drove his second of two doubles to the gap in left-center. The double scored the go-ahead run for Lexington and Luna was chased from the game. Stephen Dodson came on with runners on the corners and retired the side with no further damage.

Asheville tied the game again in their half of the sixth inning, scoring a two-out run. After the first two batters of the inning were set down, Kiel Roling singled to left field and Mike Zuanich followed with a two-bagger that nearly cleared the tall scoreboard in right-center, scoring Roling to make it 2-2.

The score remained locked at 2-2 going into the eighth, setting the table for Cesario’s dramatic homerun, his 11th of the season and his sixth in his last 16 games. After a Jordan Pacheco groundout, Roling doubled and Delta Cleary, Jr. was walked to set up a two-run triple off the bat of David Christensen to make it 5-2 Asheville. Thomas Field would drive Christensen home with an infield base hit to put the Tourists up 6-2.

Adam Jorgenson came on and worked a perfect ninth inning in a non-save situation, striking out one batter.

The Tourists (40-24) have now whittled their Magic Number to three with five games remaining. They will face the Legends (28-37) in the finale of this three-game series Thursday night at 7:05 for the last regular season home game of the year. RHP Juan Nicasio (8-3, 2.41) will take the mound for Asheville against Lexington LHP David Duncan (4-3, 4.24). Tickets for Thursday’s game and the 2009 Playoffs are available by contacting the McCormick Field Box Office at (828) 258-0428. All 140 Tourists games can be heard live on the radio on 100.7 WRES FM or streaming online at www.theashevilletourists.com.

ASHEVILLE, NC – The Asheville Tourists completed the longest game in the SAL this season in 16 innings with a 3-2 win thanks in part to Patrick Rose. The seldom used second baseman was in the midst of every key scoring play including plating the winning run in the 16th inning. The Tourists bullpen combination of Isaiah Froneberger, Stephen Dodson and Tyler Trice hurled eight scoreless innings in the win, backing up a strong start form Dan Houston. The victory ends the Tourists three game skid and keeps Asheville at least 3.5 games up in first place with eight more to play.

With the game tied at 2-2 since the seventh inning Rose scored the winning run on a Delta Cleary double. Rose walked to begin the frame, stole second base and scored on Cleary’s second double of the afternoon. Adam Jorgenson entered in the bottom of the inning and struck out the final two batters to earn his league-leading 26th save on the year.

The Tourists were held hitless through the first five innings off Hot Rods start Chris Andujar until Patrick Rose broke through with a bunt single. Rose broke up the no-hitter and scored the games first run on Jordan Pacheco’s single in the sixth inning. Andujar tossed 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits with six strikeouts.

Bowling Green took a 2-1 lead with two runs off Dan Houston in the sixth inning. Jason Corder squeaked an infield single to score Jake Jeffries and Isaias Velasquez. With two outs and two runners on Asheville intentionally walked Mike Sheridan to load the bases. Corder then came through with the infield to score the only runs off Houston.

Houston left with a no decision after seven innings of work .Houston stuck out four, walked six and allowed just two runs on five hits. Houston has now allowed just two or fewer earned runs in 15 of his 25 starts this season. Isaiah Froneberger entered the game in the eighth inning and tossed two scoreless innings to send the contest into extra innings.

Patrick Rose contributed once more in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at two runs apiece. Mike Zuanich was hit by a pitch and moved to third base on a two out Tyler Massey single. Rose then yanked a pitch into right field to tie up the game.

Dodson, Froneberger, and Tyler Trice and Jorgenson combined for the final nine innings of relief. The quartet allowed a sparse three hits with Trice (5-5) picking up the win.

Diego Echeverria tossed his knuckleball for four scoreless innings. Diego Echeverria (3-2) took the loss despite allowing one run in six innings pitched. The knuckleballer danced around trouble and five walks to keep Bowling Green going.

The Tourists had a scoring opportunity end with a triple play in the first inning. Delta Cleary began the game by reaching on an error and David Christensen followed with a walk off Chris Andujar. With the runners in motion, Jordan Pacheco lined a 3-2 pitch to the right fielder who then tossed to first baseman Mike Sheridan to double off Christensen. Sheridan then ran the ball to second base to complete the triple play.

Asheville will play the final game of the three game series in Bowling Green on Monday at Noon. Jonathan Aristil (3-8, 5.36) will face off against Shane Dyer (1-9, 5.56) for the Hot Rods. The Tourists will return home on Tuesday for the final homestand of the season. Tickets are available by contacting the front office at 828.258.0428.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Mike Zuanich and Kiel Roling homered once more to vault the Asheville Tourists back from a five-run deficit to an 11-8 victory to open a four game series against Greensboro on Tuesday. Zuanich hit a three run homerun to tie the game 7-7 in the fifth inning and Roling smacked the go-ahead homer in the sixth. Stephen Dodson tossed three innings of relief to earn his sixth win of the year. Adam Jorgenson pitched the ninth for his league-leading 24th save of the season.

Mike Zuanich hit a three-run homer to tie the game at 7-7 in the fifth inning. Kiel Roling then delivered his 18th homerun of the season to give the Tourists an 8-7 lead. Asheville has now hit 17 homeruns in their past nine ballgames.

Greensboro scored six runs in the third inning to take a 6-1 lead. Ryan Keedy and Thomas Hickman each had homeruns in the frame to make it a short night for Asheville’s starter Jonathan Aristil.

Aristil was removed following the third inning for Stephen Dodson out of the bullpen. Dodson (6-0) tossed three innings and allowed just one run to earn the win. Rex Brother hurled two innings and allowed a solo homerun to Thomas Hickman – his second homer of the game. Adam Jorgenson entered the ninth with a three-run lead and picked up his 24th save of the season in the 11-9 win.

Scott Robinson had three extra-base hits and scored three times while Patrick Rose had a multi-hit contest as well. The Tourists collected 19 hits on Tuesday after being shutout 3-0 on Monday. The win keeps Asheville at least 2.5 games up in first place with 13 remaining on the schedule.

Game two of the series vs. Greensboro will be Wednesday at 7:05. Alan DeRatt (2-5, 5.21) will go against LHP Brad Hand for Greensboro. Tickets are available by contacting the front office at 828-258-0428.

ASHEVILLE, NC – The Asheville Tourists, currently in the heat of the race for the second-half Southern Division pennant in the South Atlantic League, have announced that playoff tickets will go on sale at the McCormick Field box office beginning Tuesday, August 25, at 10 a.m.

The Tourists would host the first game of the Southern Divisional Championship Series against the Greenville Drive, the first-half winner, on Wednesday, September 9. The winner of the Southern Divisional Championship Series will then host the third, fourth and fifth games of the South Atlantic League Championship Series, slated for Thursday, September 17, Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19. All games at McCormick Field would start at 7:05 p.m.

Single game playoff tickets at McCormick Field will be available beginning Monday for $9 for general admission, $12 for box seats, $42 for the Asheville Citizen-Times Clubhouse and $47 for the Bojangles Dugout Suites. Four-game playoff packages are available at a reduced rate, including $32 per general admission pack, $44 for box seats, $152 for the Asheville Citizen-Times Clubhouse and $172 for the Bojangles Dugout Suites. Senior, children and military discounts are also available at the box office.

Fans who purchase or renew their season ticket packages, flex packages or mini-plans will receive playoff tickets at no cost. The number of playoff tickets will be equal to the number of seats purchased for the regular season or two per flex plan. Any money remaining from unplayed playoff games will be credited to the 2010 season.

The pennant race returns to McCormick Field on Tuesday, August 25, when the Tourists and Greensboro Grasshoppers begin a four-game series, with each contest starting at 7:05 p.m. The Tourists also will host the Lexington Legends for three games, from September 1-3, which will be the final regular-season series of the slate.

ASHEVILLE, NC – The Asheville Tourists entered play on Sunday afternoon’s series finale hoping to take three out of four, but could not solve the Kannapolis pitching staff, losing 7-2. Asheville managed nine hits but plated just two runs, after being held to just one run on ten hits in game three Saturday. Colorado Rockies’ supplemental first round draft pick in 2009, Rex Brothers, made his debut for Asheville pitching a scoreless inning in relief. Thomas Field snapped out of a slump, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored, reaching base in each of his four plate appearances.

Asheville had the lead early on, scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning on a Mike Zuanich sacrifice fly. The flyout gave the Tourists a 1-0 lead, and it was the sixth RBI in the four-game series for Zuanich.

Kannapolis answered back with three runs in the top of the fourth. Asheville starter Alan DeRatt pitched around a few hits early on, but didn’t have his best stuff, allowing three consecutive hits in the fourth before being chased from the game. Stephen Dodson came on in relief and allowed two inherited runners to score before retiring the side with the Intimidators ahead, 3-1.

David Christensen delivered his second homerun of the series in the bottom of the inning, bringing Asheville to within 3-2. It was the team-leading 16th homerun of the season for Christensen, and one of his longest of the year.

Stephen Dodson held Kannapolis scoreless until the seventh, when the Tourists turned to Kurt Yacko out of the bullpen. Yacko struggled, allowing four runs on five hits before getting out of the inning with Asheville trailing 7-2.

Brothers made his debut in the top of the eighth, getting a groundout and a strikeout before allowing a bloop single into left field. Brothers then got catcher Luis Sierra to ground out to second base to end the frame.

Asheville manufactured a great opportunity to get back in the game during the bottom of the eighth against Kannapolis reliever Kevin Asselin. Asselin hit the first two batters of the inning, Beau Seabury and Thomas Field, to get things started. Tyler Massey then smacked a base hit into left-center to load the bases with no outs. The Intimidators brought in closer Dan Remenowsky, who changed the game for Kannapolis. He struck out the side; Delta Cleary, Jr., Keil Roling, and Mike Zuanich, to leave Asheville scoreless.

Remenowsky worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn the save and give his club a split of this four-game series.

The Tourists (30-17) will travel to West Virginia Monday to take on the Power (27-18) for a four-game series before heading to Hickory for four more. Asheville will have RHP Parker Frazier (10-7, 4.44) on the mound for game one in West Virginia. You can listen to all 140 Tourists games live on the radio at 100.7 WRES FM or streaming online at www.theashevilletourists.com.

LEXINGTON, KY – The Asheville Tourists had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning before the rain ended the night from Lexington. Kiel Roling was intentionally walked with two runners on as the rain came down to suspend Monday’s game. The game will be finished at 6:05 on Tuesday with a seven inning game following the completion.

Alan DeRatt tossed four scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his third start of the season. DeRatt allowed two hits and walked none. The UNCA product has now made three starts this season and has allowed just three runs with 13 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched.

Lexington starter Kyle Greenwalt pitched around baserunners in every inning. Scott Robinson singled to begin both the third and fifth innings. The Tourists used three sacrifice bunts to move runners over but were unable to bring anybody home. Jimmy Cesario followed the Robinson single in the fifth and Jordan Pacheco advanced the runners with a bunt to third. Roling was then intentionally walk to load up the bases for Mike Zuanich. The skies then opened up to end the night.

The Tourists will pick up the suspended game on Tuesday and follow that with a seven inning contest in the regularly scheduled game. Parker Frazier (9-7, 4.70) is slated to pitch the seven inning contest. Asheville will wrap up the road trip on Tuesday with a day off on Wednesday.

LEXINGTON, KY – Kiel Roling smacked a homerun in the ninth inning but Asheville fell 7-6 on Sunday afternoon in Lexington. The Tourists (52-58, 26-15) had the potential tying run on second base in the final inning but came up short. The loss, with an idle Augusta moves Asheville 1.5 games up on the Greenjackets for first place. The homerun for Roling was his third solo homerun in as many games.

Jonathan Aristil (2-7) was the losing pitcher in 4 2/3 innings of work. Aristil allowed six runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Lexington scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-1 lead. Asheville tied things up in the fourth with a two-run single off the bat of Ryan Peisel.

David Duncan tossed six innings and allowed four runs on eight hits in the win for Lexington. Duncan pitched around leadoff hits from Ryan Peisel and David Christensen in the sixth inning. Beau Seabury executed a sacrifice bunt moving runners to second and third. Thomas field then struck out and Scott Robinson flew out to end the inning. Asheville had opportunities but stranded nine men on base.

Tyler Trice entered to relive Aritsil and tossed 2 1/3 innings. Trice’s only mistake was a solo homerun to Steve Brown in the seventh inning. For Brown it was his second homer of the series and ended up being the winning run for Lexington.

Asheville will play on Monday night game three of the series from Lexington. The Tourists will send Alan DeRatt to the mound at 7:05. All the action can be heard online or on the Flagship station 100.7 FM WRES.

ASHEVILLE, NC – The Asheville Tourists and Hot Rods waited over two hours past the scheduled first pitch to begin game one of their series, but completed nine innings just before midnight, with Asheville blanking Bowling Green 7-0. Jonnathan Aristil threw the longest outing of his career, going 6.2 shutout innings to earn his second victory of the season.

Asheville plated a run in their first turn at bat and never looked back, getting to Bowling Green starter Frank De Los Santos early and often. Scott Robinson led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Delta Cleary hit a routine ground ball to shortstop, but Tim Beckham threw it away, allowing Robinson to score from second. De Los Santos escaped the first with the deficit 1-0, but it grew larger from there.

The Tourists rallied for four runs in the bottom of the third inning as David Christensen led off and reached on a fielding error by first baseman Mike Sheridan. Christensen stole second base and Thomas Field hit a weak ground ball to the third base side of the pitcher’s mound that fell for an infield hit. With runners on the corners, Scott Robinson smoked a line drive over second baseman Robi Estraded that fell in shallow right-center and rolled all the way to the wall. Christensen scored from third and Field came all the way around from first to score easily to make it 3-0 Asheville. Robinson advanced to third on a groundout, then came in to score on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. With the bases empty and one out, Jordan Pacheco singled through the hole into right field, and Mike Zuanich drilled a double off the right-field wall, plating Pacheco to make it 5-0 Tourists.

Aristil struck out six and walked just one in his 6.2 shutout frames, handing the ball to the bullpen in the seventh. Alan DeRatt worked out of a jam in the seventh, coming in with runners on first and second and two outs, and struck out the only batter he faced. Shane Lindsay, with the Tourists on a rehab assignment, worked a 1-2-3 eighth, and Isaiah Froneberger and Adam Jorgenson combined for a perfect ninth to close out the win.

Asheville added insurance runs in the fourth and eighth innings to make the score 7-0, taking their second of seven head-to-head contests from the Hot Rods this year.

The Tourists (23-13) and Hot Rods (20-16) will play game two of this four-game set Wednesday at 7:05 pm. Asheville will send RHP Parker Frazier (8-7, 4.94) to the mound to face off against Hot Rods RHP Nick Barnese (5-4, 2.30). Tickets for Wednesday’s game and all Tourists home games are available by contacting the Tourists box office at (828) 258-0428. You can also listen to all 140 Asheville Tourists games live on 100.7 WRES FM or streaming online at www.theashevilletourists.com.

ROME, GA – The Asheville Tourists had their five-game winning streak snapped with a 7-3 loss in a rain-shortened six inning game on Saturday. The Rome Braves put together a four-run sixth to break a 3-3 tie just before the rain came down. Luis Sumoza doubled in three runs to give the Braves the lead and win.

Dan Houston tossed 5 2/3 innings for Asheville (48-56, 22-13) in the loss. Houston (5-8) shutout Rome for the first four innings before allowing three runs (one earned) in the fifth. Houston took a 3-3 tie into the sixth inning until the Braves broke through. With two outs Chaise fuller singled to begin Rome’s assault. Houston then lost his command and walked the next three batters before being lifted for Michael Marbry. Luis Sumoza then cracked his fourth hit of the game, a double to clear the bases pushing Rome up 7-3 after six innings.

Asheville scored in the first inning with a Scott Robinson leadoff double. Robinson stole third base and came in on a Kiel Roling double. Asheville took a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a one out single form Delta Cleary followed by two Rome errors.

The Braves pushed across three runs to take the lead in the fifth on consecutive RBI hits from Joel Campusano and Sumoza. The Tourists tied the game 3-3 in the top of the sixth on a Mike Zuanich double and a Ryan Peisel sacrifice fly.

Rome took over with the big bottom half of the sixth inning as the rain came to end the contest and the Tourists five game winning streak. Asheville will finish their four game series in Rome on Sunday at 2:00 with Alan DeRatt (1-2, 6.06) to make his second start of the season for Asheville. All the action can be heard on 100.7 WRES or online at www.theashevilletourists.com